Electric flatiron and control therefor



Aug. 6, 1946.

A. H. RIESS ELECTRIC FLATIHON AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Nov. '29. 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Au sf/7f Pies:

ATTORNEY Aug. 6, 1946. A. H. RIESS v 2,405,270

ELECTRIC FLATIRON AND CONTROL (THEREFOR Filed Nov. 29, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WNVENTOR 14:19:15) H. was I' BY Y ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1946 7 ELECTRIC FLATIRON AND CONTROL THEREFOR August H. Riess, Lawndale, Calif., assignor of one-third to H. Glen Manley, Hawthorne, Calif.

Application November 29, 1943, Serial No. 512,141

2 Claims.

This invention relates to electric flatirons, and more particularly to such irons as are intended to be heated by the passage of an electric current through a, heating element enclosed in the lI'OIl.

It is common to provide flatirons with such elements, energized as through a cord that is plugged into an outlet. While it is possible to disconnect the cord both from the outlet and the socket after the iron attains the desired tempera.- ture, this requires repeated operations of connecting and disconnecting the cord and plug.

It is one of the objects of this invention to obviate the use of a cord, especially by providing a convenient cordless circuit controlling device.

For this purpose, a rest for the stand is provided, so arranged that the act of placing the iron thereon causes the heating circuit to be active, and under the control of a thermostat. The iron is thus brought up to operating temperature, and is kept there within narrow limits. Removal of the iron from the rest renders the heating circuit inactive. The heat stored in the iron keeps it hot for a substantial period. Normal use of the iron being intermittent, the iron remains on the stand long enough in the periods of inactivity for operating temperature to be maintained at all times.

It is another object of this invention to simplify the act of placing the iron in operative position on the rest. and without it being required to insert prongs or the like in a receptacle.

To attain this object, the connection to the heating element is effected by the aid of contact plates located on the sides of the iron that converge at the tip or point. The iron with the plate acts as a wedge; moved onto the rest, the plates force contacts into engagement with contacts supported on the rest. It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide an iron in which the terminals of the heating element are formed as external plates attached to the converging opposite sides of the iron.

The iron when placed in operative position in the rest is protected from excessive heating by the provision of a thermostatic switch carried by the rest. It is another object of this invention to improve the performance of the thermostat, and particularly by mounting it on the rest in such position that it responds to the temperature attained at the exterior operating surface of the sole plate.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and ha other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this pur pose there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. The form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting ense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention, a portion of the cover being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View, taken along plane 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along plane 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan dietail View, partly in section, illustrating the structure of one of the elements included in the circuit controller for the flatiron;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken along plane 5-5 of Fig. 1;

6 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along plane E-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of the circuit controlling system embodied in the invention; and

Fig. 8 i a pictorial view of the rest for the flatiron.

The rest for the flatiron (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is so arranged that the flatiron may be readily moved onto the base 2 of the rest. When the iron is placed completely on the base, it serves to connect the heating element 3 (Fig. '7) into a heating circuit. The element 3 is indicated in dotted lines on Fig. 2.

The base 2 may be formed with appropriate heat insulation, upon which the flatiron I may be rested without substantial loss of heat.

In order to facilitate the connection of the heating element 3 with the circuit controllers supported upon the base 2, the terminals of the heating element are connected respectively to the conducting plates or contacts 4 and 5 (Figs, 1,

3 and 7). These contacts 6 and 5 are supported externally of the iron and on the sides 6 i (Fig. 2), which converge toward the tip of the iron 2. As shown most clearly in the plates may be insulated from the sides as by the aid of the insulation layer 8.

These plates or contacts 5 and 5 are arranged to cooperate with contact members that are movably supported by the walls 9 and ill of the rest (Figs, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8). These walls are shown in the present instance as formed of a continuous, upright piece of sheet metal, vertically supported upon the base 2, and converging toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, to conform with the converging sides 6 and I of the iron i. The walls 9 and ID are shown as supported upon the base 2 as by the aid of the ears I I, through which fastening screws [2 may pass.

The contact 4 cooperates with a contact member, shown most clearly in Fig. 3, and arranged to cause engagement of a pair of contacts by placing the iron upon the base 2. Thus, a hollow barrel I3 is shown as supported with its axis transverse to the wall 9. This barrel may be held in place by the aid of a nut l4, threaded over the barrel, for tightening the flange 1-5 of the barrel against the inner edge of an aperture in wall 9. Insulation washers l6 and an insulation sleeve ll serve to maintain the barrel l3 out of electric contact with the wall 9.

Slidable within the barrel I3 is a contact point 88, shown in this instance as being provided with a ball-like contacting surface 19, which projects inwardly of the wall 9.

The point i8 is provided with a shank 29 that extends through the lefthand end of the barrel I3. A compression spring 2! in the barrel urges the point l9 toward the right and into contact with the contact 4, when the iron 1 is in a position where it is completely disposed upon the base 2. In Fig. 1, the iron has not yet arrived at this position. The shank 29 is provided with a contact button 22 that is arranged to cooperate with the contact 23, mounted on a spring finger 24. This finger 24, as shown most clearly in Figs. 3

and 4, is mounted upon the base 2 as by the aid of the ear 25.

A similar contact member is supported on the wall H1 and provided with a movable contact point 23. This contact point 26 is of the same general structure as the contact point 18 and is disposed so that it projects inwardly of the wall it. In this instance the button 2'! (Figs. 1 and 7) cooperates with the spring finger 23 (shown in greater detail in Fig. Contact finger 23 is shown as provided with the car 29 by the aid of which it is supported upon the base 2.

As the iron moves inwardly, or toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1, the contacts 4 and 5 engage the contact points 13 and 26, urging them outwardly, and causing contact to be established between the point It! and spring finger 24, as well as between point 23 and spring finger 28. Contacts are established in this way, for sending heating current through the unit 3, as indicated by the wiring diagram in Fig. '7.

Thus, the mains 29 and 39 may be connected to any appropriate source of current. Main 29 is connected to one terminal of a thermostatic control device, shown in general by reference character 3| in Fig. 7. This main 29 is also indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. The other terminal of the thermostatic control device 3| is connected as by conductors 32 and 33 (Figs, 1, 4 and '7) to the contact finger 24. The contact finger 28 may be directly connected to the main 39.

Accordingly, if we assume that thermostatic switch 3| is closed, the circuit for the heating unit 3 is completed when the fiatiron is in place upon the rest, through main 29, thermostat 3!, conductors 32 and 33, finger 24, button 22, contact member l8, contact 4, heating element 3, contact 5, contact member 26, button 21, finger 28, to the main 30.

The thermostatic switch 3| is shown to best advantage in Figs. 5 and 6. This thermostatic switch includes a pair of spring contact arms 34 and 35, disposed one above the other, and supported upon the base 2. These arms are maintained insulated from each other by the aid of the insulation blocks 36, through which may pass a screw for holding arms 34 and 35 in position on the base 2. The upper spring finger 34 may be provided with a binding post 31, by the aid of which the main 32 may be connected to this upper finger.

Normally, the fingers 34 and 35 are urged toward each other in order to complete the contact between contact points 38 and 39, carried respectively by the fingers 34 and 35. However, the arrangement is such that the upper finger 34 may be urged upwardly so as to open the circuit. This upward movement is arranged to be under control of a bimetallic strip 49, that is fastened as by the screw 4| (Fig. 3) in the base 2. The upper surface of the bimetallic strip 40 is normally fiush with the upper surface of the base 2.

This strip 49, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, is arranged to be exposed on the base 2 adjacent the place where the tip of the iron I would rest when the iron is in place upon the base 2. Accordingly, there is heat transfer from the sole plate of the iron to the strip 49. When the temperature of the iron attains a limiting high value, the bimetal strip 4!] curls upwardly. This causes an insulation button 42 (Figs. 5 and 6) to move upwardly to urge the spring finger 34 to open position. In this way the circuit through the contact points 38 and 39 is interrupted, and the heating element 3 is de-energized.

The bimetallic strip 40, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 8, is purposely so arranged that it responds to the temperatures attained at the most important portion of the ironing surface; that is, adjacent the tip of the iron.

The temperature attained by the iron before the thermostatic switch device 3| operates, may be regulated. Adjustment is provided by aid of a rotatable handle 43, carrying a threaded shank 44. This shank is threaded into the housing, or cover 45, made from insulation material. Housing or cover 45 is disposed, as shown most clearly in Fig. 8, over that portion of the base which supports the spring fingers 24 and 28, leaving exposed the space between the walls 9 and I0. Projections 54 (Figs. 3 and 8) are formed on cover 45 over the contact points It and 26. In this way, it is ensured that the iron I will be placed on the base 2 by a sliding movement over the base; and these projections further ensure against inadvertent contact with live parts while the iron is being heated.

The rounded end of threaded shank 44 provides an adjustment for the thermostatic switch 3|, by being extended through an aperture in spring finger 34, and cooperating with an insulation disc 43, mounted on the spring finger 35. Turning the screw 44 inwardly causes engagement of the rounded end 4'! of shank 44 with the disc 46. Spring finger 35 may thus be depressed within limits. The contact 38 on spring finger 34 stays in engagement with contact 39, for fingers 34 and 35 are urged toward each other by their resilience. In this way, the clearance between the button 42 and spring finger 34 may be adjusted, and the extent of curl of the bimetallic strip 40 necessary to open the circuit, may be adjusted.

The handle 43 may include a pointer 48, cooperating with a temperature scale 49 (Figs. 1 and 8) on the cover 45. A friction spring 50 may be supported by the handle 43, cooperating with cover 45, to retain the adjustment in a releasable manner.

When the iron is in place upon the base 2, it is desirable to indicate whether the circuit through the heating element 3 is active or not. This is accomplished in the present instance by the aid of a small signal lamp 5| (Figs. 1 and '7). This signal lamp is connected in parallel with the heating element 3. It is controlled by the thermostatic switch 3|.

For this purpose, one terminal of the lam 5! is connected to the conductors 32 and 33. The other terminal is connected as by a conductor 52 to the barrel 53, associated with the contact member 25.

The cover 45 is provided with a viewing window 55 (Fig. 8), through which the lamp 5| may be viewed. When the lamp is energized, the user of the iron knows that the heating element 3 is also energized. As soon as the lamp goes dark, it is an indication that the iron i has been brought to the desired operating temperature, the control device 3| being open.

By adjustment of the handle 43, the temperature attained before the switch 3! operates may easily be adjusted by reference to the temperature scale 49.

Due to the provision of the contact fingers 24 and 28, and their cooperating contact buttons such as 22 and 2'! (Fig.7), the contact members I 8 and 26, although exposed, are not connected to any live wire unless iron I is in place. Touching these members H3 or 26 inadvertently while the iron is removed from the rest, is harmless. It is necessary for the contact members l8 and 26 to be urged outwardly into contact with the respective spring fingers before these members carry any current. The cover thus effectively shields the current carrying parts of the contact mechanisms.

The inventor claims:

1. In a rest for an electric iron, 21. base for the iron, opposing walls between which the iron is to enter, and supported on the base, a pair of movable contact members, a pair of sleeves respectively supported by the walls, for said contact members, to guide said members for movement transversely of said walls, contact fingers respectively back of the walls and arranged to be connected to said members when said members move outwardly of the walls, and means forming a protecting wall around said contact fingers, said means including an upper wall having projections overlying said contact members.

2. In combination, an electric iron having a heating element, as well as sides converging toward the tip of the iron, contacts carried externally of the sides and connected respectively to the ends of the element, a base for the iron, opposing walls supported on the base, and between which the iron may enter, a pair of contact members, a pair of sleeves respectively supported by the walls, for said contact members, to guide said members for movement transversely of said walls, each of said contact members having a contact point extending inwardly of the Walls and contacted by the external contacts of the iron, and contact fingers respectively back of the walls and contacted by said members when said members are moved by the iron in an outward direction.

AUGUST I-I. RIESS. 

